UNISON is waiting to hear the outcome of a closed-doors board meeting that could decide the future of nearly 2,000 staff working for NHS England.
The union has been in detailed discussions with NHS England about the future of 1,800 staff who provide primary care support services in England, after the board had agreed to make a £40m-a-year saving from its £100m budget.
Proposals included office closures and reorganisation, and UNISON members around the country were involved in extensive consultation about the implications of any changes.
But earlier this year, it was revealed that the board had received a bid to take over the whole service from Shared Services Connected Ltd, which is 75% owned by Steria Ltd and 25% by the government.
Public service staff have already been transferred to this company, including UNISON members working for the Environment Agency.
On 15 May, the board met to consider whether to award the contract to Shared Services Connected Ltd or to carry through a huge internal reorganisation.
Either option would involve significant redundancies, but UNISON is strongly opposed to privatisation and has provided a detailed response to the board explaining why it would be bad for the service as well as the staff.
Head of health Christina McAnea said: “Privatising this service would be disastrous for the NHS in England.
“In particular, sending some of the work out to India would be disgraceful, since these would be jobs of NHS staff in England that would be lost all to help Steria Ltd become a profitable company.
“This service should remain an NHS service, with the staff remaining as NHS employees, and any savings created should be used for the benefit of the NHS and not to help the balance sheet of a profit-making company.”
The outcome of the board meeting will not be known until early June.
